The southern part of the state, while less geologically exciting, can still produce great specimens of gem-quality minerals. The best places to collect rocks in Alabama include the areas around Tuscaloosa, Ashland, Rockford, Alexander City. You can also pan for gold and gems at the Alabama Gold Camp.
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Can you find crystals in Alabama?
Small quartz crystals may be found in cavities in limestone in the rocks of north Alabama, and large quartz crystals have been found associated with the coarse-grained rocks known as pegmatites, found in east Alabama.
Where are emeralds found in Alabama?
The gemstones varieties such as aquamarine and emerald can be found in Coosa County in central Alabama. Coosa county is probably the best county in the state to search for a variety of different gems and minerals and is a very popular areas for rockhounds.
Where can I find rough gemstones?
To check a rough gemstone’s streak, rub it across the back of a ceramic tile or similar unglazed material. The colored powder the stone leaves behind is called its streak. A gemstone’s streak is usually, but not always, the same as the color of the gemstone.
Where is hematite found in Alabama?
Hematite, an oxide of iron (Fe2O3), is also known as “red iron ore” and in 1967 was designated as the State Mineral by the Alabama Legislature. Hematite was mined for many years in the Valley and Ridge area of central and northeastern Alabama.
What kind of gems can you find in Alabama?
Gems and Precious Stones
Among the more popular gems and collectible minerals found in Alabama are agate quartz, amethyst, andalusite, apatite, calcite, emeralds, fluorite, ilmenite, magnetite, monazite, onyx, opal, rutile, tourmaline and turquoise.
Where can I find gold in Alabama creeks?
The Tallapoosa River, Crooked Creek, and Wesobulga Creek are good locations for placer gold in Clay County. Look throughout this beautiful county along smaller streams and creeks, you may find some good Alabama gold locations.
Where are geodes found in Alabama?
Geodes can be discovered in the streams and meadows surrounding Athens, Alabama. Numerous geodes from this region have been collected by scores of people on rockhounding Alabama adventures.
What is the state gem of Alabama?
Star Blue Quartz
Alabama Gemstone
Most quartz is a souvenir of volcanoes, which melt silica, which is then carried by water into crevices, where it crystallizes. Such quartz often includes traces of other minerals picked up by water flowing underground. The Star Blue Quartz became the state gemstone in 1990 by Act no. 90-203.
How do you find gems in creeks?
If you’re looking for stones in creeks, it’s best to spend time on a sunny day during periods between storms or heavy rains because this erosion will happen most quickly then. It also helps if you memorize what color gems come from which rocks so that when they do find one, they can recognize it more easily!
Where can I get rocks identified?
Can you identify my rock or mineral?
- Your state geological survey.
- A natural science museum.
- A college or university with a geology department.
- A rockshop.
- Members of a local Gem & Mineral club or Rockhunting club (many hobbyists are experts at identification)
- Vendors at a Gem & Mineral show.
Is silver found in Alabama?
Lauderdale county contains iron; iron, coal and lead and silver have been found in Limestone county; coal and iron in Jackson; coal, manganese, copper, lead and silver in Marshall; coal in Morgan (also asphalt, the first trace discovered in Alabama ; coal in Lawrence; traces of iron, coal and lead in Pickens; traces of
Is gold found near Granite?
Has granite have gold in it?The goelogist, found the “gold in small scales, rarely exceeding a millimeter in diameter, distributed through the scales of mica and apparently enclosed in both the feldspar and quartz granules.”
Where can Dolomite be found in Alabama?
The dolomite outcrops along the east side of Opossum Valley, being quarried by the Tennessee Republic Company at Thomas and by the Sloss Iron Company at North Birmingham. The outcrop in Opossum Valley continues as a narrow belt up the west side of Birmingham Valley to Mount Pinson.
How do you go rockhounding?
- Do the research. Start close to home, by exploring your area’s geology – what minerals and rocks are present in your current locale?
- Join a club.
- Gather the tools.
- Catalog your collection.
- Keep the labels.
- Use reliable reference sources.
- Limit the size of your mineral collection.
- Develop your relationships.
Is there gold in Alabama?
Gold found in Alabama comes from lode and placer sources. Much of Alabama’s gold has been produced at Hog Mountain and the Hillabee mine. Both hardrock areas, they are credited with more than 25,000 ounces. Gold is found in lode form and most is recovered by the cyanide heap leaching.
Can you find gold nuggets in Alabama?
One of the states producing the most gold east of the Mississippi is Alabama. Chambers, Coosa, Clay, Chilton, Cleburne, Elmore, Talladega, Tallapoosa and Randolph Counties have all produced gold.Fine gold, along with some nuggets of good size, have been found in Alabama.
Does Black Sand mean gold?
Black sands (mostly iron) can be and usually is an indicator of gold, but not always. Rule of thumb is you will generally find black sand with gold, but not always gold with black sand. However if you are finding gold and getting black sands with it, it would be worthwhile to try some and see what happens.
Can you find petrified wood in Alabama?
Petrified wood occurs across the state of Alabama, where it is often called “brilliant wood” because of its discovery near Brilliant and its lustrous sheen caused by cavities lined with quartz crystals.
Can you find flint in Alabama?
Flint, also known as chert, is a type of sedimentary rock that has many uses.You won’t find flint in the North East U.S. But it is very common in the South East and Mid West. Quartz is a metamorphic rock and can be used like flint to start fires.
Where can I find fossils in Alabama?
Alabama is well known for its coal-age (Pennsylvanian) plant fossils. These are most abundant in the Warrior coal basin of northwest Alabama. The best plant fossils are preserved in shales associated with coal deposits and are found in coal mines.
